Tell us about who you are, where you are from, and what you do.

I am a proud member of the Kalarie Peoples from the Wiradjuri Nations in central west NSW. I consider myself a nomadic being, with strong ties to my culture amid western society. I also proudly identify as a queer person. Through the love of my cultural appreciation tied into my sexuality, I live my life as an activist and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and LGBTQI advancement – standing on the shoulders of giants who have paved the way for me to be here, for me to exist, and for me to survive.

I currently live on Wurundjeri Country in Melbourne, completing my honours degree at the University of Melbourne. My dissertation is an investigation of the impacts of the new political discourse of "Indigenous excellence" on the transmission of accepted Aboriginal ideas about identity and cultural knowledge to Indigenous youth.

My research will involve an examination of the language, terminologies, institutions, projects and mechanisms at work in the efforts to overcome a deficit approach to Indigeneity and replace it with a positive and optimistic view of Indigenous potential, purportedly captured in the phrase "Indigenous excellence". The significance of this research lies in its potential for further understanding of Indigenous preferences in relation to use of lexicon, language, and code switching as socio-political acts.

I work with the aspiration initiative (TAI) as a national facilitator and mentor. TAI works to increase opportunities and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, helping to ensure they realise their potential at school, university and beyond. I work as a tutor with Indigenous students at the University of Melbourne through the Murrup Barak Institute for Indigenous Development and serve as a member on several committees ranging from grassroots to national organisations.

What do you plan to focus on during your week as host of @IndigenousX?

This week is a great moment for Australian history – we play host to the 20th International Aids Conference held in Melbourne from July 20-25. Former US president Bill Clinton, UNAids executive director Michel Sidibé and artist and activist Sir Bob Geldof will be among the high-level speakers who will join the world’s top Aids researchers, community leaders, people living with HIV and policy-makers at Aids 2014.

The conference will also hold a global Indigenous-networking village throughout the week – a space for Indigenous delegates from across the globe to connect, share, and come together in a formidable, culturally safe environment, to talk about Aids and sexual health in their communities.

Prior to #Aids14, The international indigenous pre-conference on HIV & Aids (#IPCHIV14) will take place in Sydney from July 17-19. The pre-conference to the international Aids conference is to be held in Australia for the first time and is an international Indigenous working group on HIV&Aids event, co-hosted by an Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organising committee.

I am fortunate to be attending both conferences within my role as co-chair of Anthym (Aboriginal Nations Torres Strait Islander HIV Youth Mob), an Indigenous youth-led committee that aims to provide and shape awareness of Aids and sexual health discussion in Australia in an attempt to influence future policies.

Hosting @IndigenousX will allow me to keep followers informed about the difficulties and advancement of Aids and sexual health from around the globe, from an Indigenous standpoint.

What issues are you most passionate about and why?

As I previously mentioned, I am an activist and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait and LGBTQI advancement. Additionally I am passionate about education, health, and human rights of all peoples.

Here's some stats that matter:

In 2011, the rate of HIV diagnosis was highest among those living in major cities, in both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population and the non‐Indigenous population. In the 10 years from 2002 to 2011, 229 cases of HIV infection were diagnosed in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

LGTBQI youth are six times more likely to commit suicide due to a number of factors, some relating to bullying, fear of rejection and social misunderstandings towards sexuality.

Only 40% of Aboriginal children who stay at school complete year 12, compared to 76% of non-Indigenous children.

While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are one of the most resilient peoples in the world, some Indigenous Australians unfortunately live in a society where basic health care, education, and employment opportunities and support are not readily available. Given this, I still find the recent budget that is expected to cut over $500m dollars to Indigenous affairs appalling. As a young person, these types of budget cuts give my future a somewhat bleak outlook.

Who are your role models, and why?

Life provides us with a tremendous opportunity to learn and engage from each other. However, life also gives us significant people who teach us the simple things. Within those teachings there are often harsh realities that spell out the unwanted truth, but will always make you a better human being.

My family will always be the foundation that allows me to move forward – without them, I would not be the person I am today. I often speak about standing on the shoulders of giants, whose sharp minds and resilient attitudes allow me to find the links that create truthful conversation. My Mum and Grandmother, professor Marcia Langton, Lilly Brown, Kirstie Parker, Celeste Liddle, Aunty Dorris Shillingsworth, Aunty Carolyn Briggs, Aunty Dianne Kerr, and Aileen Moreton-Robinson hold beauty, passion and knowledge and each of them knows the exact moment to reveal it, but only when you are ready to have it. These strong women are the giants whose shoulders allow me to view their past and provide wisdom for the future.

In saying that, my most important role models are other young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from across Australia. The work they are doing whether in their family, school, community or workplace, whose efforts go without recognition but are resilient in waking up every day to continue what it is they love; is inspiring to me.

What are your hopes for the future?

We can all dream of a world without racism and discrimination, without inequality and lack of opportunities, but realistically it may sometimes not happen. My hope for my future is simple, and I hope others can somehow incorporate it into their own future. Live each day as it is meant to be, sometimes we need to just let things go, and sometimes we need to accept that something’s cannot be done. Nevertheless, also live each day the way you want to, do something that makes you happy, and challenge the things that you believe are worth fighting.